US2000871A - Railway traffic controlling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

y 7,1935. I E. M. ALLEN 2 000,871

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS File May 12, 1954 INVENTOIR Earl MAllen y MUS/Zulu.

HIS ATTORNEY Patented May 7, 1935 arl M. Allen Swis'svale, Pa., assignor to'.The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale.

Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania I Application May 12, 1934, Saar Nb. 725,313 21 Claims. (01. 246-41 My invention relates to railway traflic, controlling apparatus, andparticularlyto apparatus of the type involving a railway switch which is controlledjointly by an operator :locatedtata remote point and by traffic conditions in the vicinity of the switch. r

More particularly, my present invention relates toapparatus of this character involving approach locking means which in normal operation becomes effective'to lock the switch whilea trainis approaching, but is released when the train enters the track section in which the switch is located.

One feature of my, invention is the provision,'in apparatus of this character, of ,novel and improved means for preventing improper release of the approach locking means inthe. event of momentary failure of the source of track circuit cur.- rent for the section of track in which the switch is located while such section is unoccupied; I r

I will describe one form of apparatusembodying my invention, and will then pointout the novel features thereof in claims; I z

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is aIdiagrammatic view showing a portionof one form of apparatusembodying ,myinvention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing certain circuits for the control of relayM in Fig.1.. -Simi1ar reference characters refer tosf ilar parts in each of the views. V. V

Referring first to Fi 1,.the reference j-charac ters l and I designate the track rails of a stretch of main track- E, which rails are divided by insulated joints 2 to form a. main section X Y'and anapproach section"WfX. The main section X.Y contains a switch A leading into a side track C. Trafiic moving toward the right through the main section X-,-Y is governed by'two signals SA and SB, which signals are. controlled in part by traflic conditions in the main section 'XT-Y and will usually also be controlled fromaia. remote point, such as an interlocking tower-or a des-;

patchers ofice. The control of these signals forms no part of my present invention, and,fconsequently, the controlling circuits are omitted from the drawing. The switch A is'provided with an operating mechanism D, which is also con-, trolled in part from a remote point, usually the same point from j which the signals are controlled, through the medium of circuits which are represented in the drawing by thereferenc'e'character G. Associated with the switch A is the usual approach locking relay. M, having a front contact 8 included in the operating circuits for the switch mechanism D, sothat the, switch cannot be moved.

throughthe medium of its operating circuits G unless this relay is energized. C g

The main section X--Y is provided with a track] circuit comprising a source of current, such as a battery 3 connectedacrossthe rails at one end 15 of the section, and aprimarytrack relay P which g is'at times connectedacross therails at;the ot her end of. the section. This section is provided with a second track-circuit including asource .ofcur-u rent, such asabattery -1 and a slowreleasing sec .0 ondary track relay S, which elements are attimes connected in series across the railsiofthe section. The primaryirelay P is provided .Wlthfa pick-'up circuitwhich passes from the upperrail I, through I the winding of relay P, and a front contacti of the secondary relaySto the lower rail 1%. Itfol lows that this circuitisclosed only when contact .6 on relay S is closed. Relay. B is also provided with a holding circuit, which passes, from the,-

upper rail I, through thewinding of relay,-P,. a '20.

front contact 4, of relay P, and aresistanc'e 15 to .the lower rail. I Itfollows that this holding circuit is closed only whenrelay P is closed. ,When relay P isr'eleased, battery landthe winding of relay S are connected across the rails of section 25 Xf-Y,.through back c'ontact5 of relay'P, but when relay Pris ,closedflthis .pathjis, of course,ope'n at contacti- When this .path is closed,relay Swill i be energized when and only when the path is'comE pleted bythe wheels and axles of a train: in sectionX Y.' .Q. 1. 1. a Q The appr0ach.'section W-X is provided with a. track circuit ofthe'usual type including a source ofcurrent 3 andatrack relayT, j g M 7 Referring now to Fig. 2, .the approach locking relay 1M is provided with an energizing circuitwhich passes fromterminal B of a suitable source of current, through a contact SAawhich is closed only when signal SA indicates stop, a contact SBIO which is "closed only when signalSB indicates stop, jfront" contact TH offthe approach track'relayiTgand the winding of relay M to terminal O of. the same sourcej'of current. circuit is provided with a shunt: around contact TI l which includes a back contact P12 of the primary relayP, and a front contact SI3 of the secondary relay 5. The circuitfor relay M is providedwith a second shunt aroundc'ontact'Tll ,rwhich second shunt includes a normally open contact of a manually operable time'element device Q. The circuit 9 V for relay M is provided with athirdshuntaround contact TH, whichthird shuntincludes front contact ll of relay M; I 5

When switch A is in'the normalposition, signals SA andSB arezboth at stop, and .no trains contact SA9, so that relay M will become deener-v gized, and this will prevent the operator from operating switch A. If, when there is no train in the approach section W-X, the operator returns.

signal SA to the stop position, relay M will again become energized so that the operator will be free to operate switch A. If, however, the section W-X is occupied by a train, the return of the signal SA to its stopposition not cause relay M to become energized'bec'ause the main circuit for this relay will then be open at contact TI 1 of track relay '1. Under these conditions relay M can be energized only by operation of the slow-acting device Q.

I will now assume that signal SA has been cleared and that a train moving toward the right passes through the stretch of main track shown in Fig. l. When-the trainenters sectionX-Y, it will de-energize the primary relay P, thereby closing at back contact 5 the path bywhich battery l and secondary relay S are connected across the rails. Relay S will then become energized, because itscircuit will be completed through the wheels and axles of the train. Signal SA will be returnedto the stop position by virtue of the usual control of this signal by relay P. A pick-up icircuitiorrelay M will then be closed through contacts SAS and SBlii, back contact P i 2 of relay P, and front contact S13 of relay S, so that relay M will again become energized. When the train leaves section X-Y, relay'S will become de-energized because thetrain shunt is removed from the rails of this section, but due to the slow-releasing characteristic of this relay its contact 6 will remain closed long enough for relay P to become energizedby battery 3 located at Y end of track section X-Y; Relay M will remain energized, so that the operator may now reverse the switch A if he caresto d0-so.

i l I The operation of the apparatus when switch A is reversed and signal SB (is clear will be apparent from the foregoing without detailedexplana tion.

One important feature of my invention lies in the fact that amomentary interruption of the supply .of track circuit current for the main section X-Y, while this sectionis unoccupied and section WX is occupied, cannot result in improper energization of relay M, because under these conditions relay S would remain de-ener- .gized due to the fact that there is no train in section X--Y to complete its circuit.

Another importantffeature of my invention lies in the fact that a'momentary interruption of the supply of track circuit current for themainsection X- Y which might be caused by any number of reasons, such foiiht'ince "as malicious intent or a broken rail, will cause relay P to open then a removal of the interrupting cause, such as the broken ends of a rail again making mechanical contact, cannot again energize relay'P until the cause of interruption has been ascertained and relayP has been energized by a mechanical con tact across-rails I and 1 or local 'energization,

.nlthough -I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, -'is'1mderstood that various changes and modifications may be inade therein within'the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a section of railway track containing a switch, a source of track circuit current connected across the rails of said section, a primary track relay and a secondary track relay, a pick-up circuit for said primary relay connected across the rails of said section and including a front contact of said secondary relay, a holding circuit for said primary relay connected across the rails of said section and including a front contact of the primary relay, means for connect ing said secondary relay across the rails of said section through aback contact of said primary relay and an auxiliary source of current, and means for controlling said switch by said relays.

2 In combination, a section of railway track containing a switch, a source of track circuit current connected across the rails of said section, a primary track relay and a secondary track relay, a pick-up circuit for said primary relay connected J across the rails of said section and including a front contact of said secondary relay, i

a holding circuit for said primary relay connected across the rails of said section and including a front'contact of the primary relay, means for connecting said secondary relay across the rails of said section through a back contact of said primary relay and-an auxiliary source of current, a locking relay for controlling said switch, and a pick-up circuit for said locking relay including in series a back contact of said primary relay and a front contact of said secondary relay. 3. In combination, a section of railway track containing a switch, a track circuit for said section including a source of current connected across the rails and a primary track relay normally connected across the rails through its own front contact, a secondary relay connected across the rails of said section through an auxiliary source of current and aback contact of said primary relay, apick-up circuit for said primary relay connected across the rails of said section and including a front contact of said secondary relay, and means for controlling-said switch by said relays. V 4. In combination, a section of-railwa'y track containing a switch -a track circuit for said sec- -tion including a source of current connected across the rails and a primary track relay normally connected across the railsthrough its 'own front contact, 'a Secondary relay connected across the rails of said section through an auxiliary source of current and a back contact of said primary relay, a pick-up circuit for said primary relay connected across/the rails of said section and including a front contact of saidsecondary relay, a locking relay for controlling said switch,

and a pick-up circuit for saidlocking relay including in series a back contact of -said primary relay and a frontcontact of said secondary relay. 5. In combination, a section of railway track containing a-switch, a track circuit for said section including a source of current and avprirnary track relay each connectedacross the rails, a secondary track relay and an auxiliary source of current connected in series across the rails of said section, and means "i or controlling said switch by said relays.

6."In combination, a section of railway track containing a switch, -'a track-circuit for said section including a'sourc'e of current and a primary trackrelay each connected across the rails, a

7. In combinatiomra section of railwaytrack containinga switch, a source of track circuit cur-. rent connectedacross the rails of said-section, a primary track relayand a secondary track relay,

means for-normally connecting said primary relay ac'ros'sthe rails of said I section 'through its own front contact, auxiliary means for connecting-said primary relay across the rails of saidsection when and only=when said secondary relayis closed, means for connecting said secondaryrelay'end an auxiliary source of currentjin series acr'oss th'e rails of said section when and only when said primary relay isopen, and-a controlling circuit for said switch including in series a back contact of said primary relay and a front contact of said secondary relay.

8 In combination, a section of railway track containing a switch, a track circuit for saidlsection including a source of current and a primary track relay each connected across the rails, a sec-, ondary track relay and an auxiliary source of' current connected in series across the rails of said section, and a controlling circuit for said switch including in series a back contact of said primary relay and a front contact'of said secondary relay.

9. In combination, a section of railway track containing a switch, a track circuit for said section including a normally energized relay which releases when a train enters the section, a second track circuit for said section including anormally deenergized relay which becomes .energized when a train enters the section and remains energized as long as the train remains in the section, and a controlling circuit for said switch including in series a back contact of said first relay and a front contact of said second relay. 7 a

10. In combination, a section of railway track containing a switch, a track circuit for said-section including a normally energized relay which releases when a train enters the section, a second track circuit for said section including a normally deenergized relay which becomes energized when a train enters the section and remains energized as long as the train'remains in the section, and means for controlling said switch jointly by said two relays.

11. In combination, a section of railway track, a track circuit for said section including a normally energized relay which releases when a train enters the section, a second track circuit for said section including a normally deenergized relay which becomes energized when a train en-' ters the section and remains energized "as long as the train remains in the section, anda trafiic governing device associated with said section and controlled jointly by said two relays.

- 12. In combination,a section of railway track, a track circuit for saidsection including a normally energized relay which releases when a train enters the section, a second track circuit for said section including a normally deenergized relay which becomes energizedwhen a train enters the section and remains energizedas long as the train remains in the section, a traflic governing device associated with said section,fand a controlling circuit for said device including in front contact of said second relay.

front contact of said relay 3 series ai'back contact-of said first relay'and a 13. In combination, a section vof railway track containing :a switch, a contactarranged toibe closed-by a train occupying said section, a. relay and asource of current, :means elfectivewhen said contact is closed for connecting said relay- Y and said source in series across tlie rails of said section, locking means for at times preventing operation of said switch; andlmeans-includinga for releasing said locking'means. 1 14. Incombination with a section'of railway track and a source of current-connected across the rails of, said section, a trackrelay and. an auxiliary relaypa pickup circuit for "said track relay connected across the rails Y of the section the rails of the section, atrack relay and an aux-' and including 'fafront contactof the auxiliary o =relay, a holdingcircuit for said track relay con iliary relay, apickup circuit for saidtrack relay I connected across therails of the section and including a'front contact of the auxiliary relay, a

,holding circuit for said track relay connected across the rails or the section and including a resistor adapted to be short circuited by said front contact, and means for energizing said auxiliaryrelay when and only when the armature of the track relay is down.-

l6. Inv combination with a section of. railway track and a source of current connected across the rails of: the section, a track relay, a holding circuit for said relay connectedacross the rails of the section and including a resistor in series withthe operating winding of the rel'ay,a circuit controlling contact shunting around said. re-

sistor and normally open, a pickup circuit for said track relay connected across therails of the sec:

tion and including said contact, electromagnetic means effective when energized toclose said contact, and means to energize the electromagnetic means rendered active in response to ,a train entering the section.

17. In combination with a section of. railway track and asource of current connected across the rails of said section, a tracklrelay, and an auxiliary relay, a pickup circuit-for said track relay connected across the rails of the section and including a front contact of the auxiliary relay, a holding circuit for said track relay connected across the railsof the section and including a resistor connected so as to be shunted by said front contact, another source of current, and a circuit effectiveto energize said auxiliary relay including said other source of current and a back contact of the track relay.

18..In combination with a-section of, railway I track and a source of current connected across the rails of said section, a track relay and an auxiliaryrelay, a pickup circuit for said track relay connected across the rails of the section "and including a front contact of the auxiliary -relay,j.a holding circuit for said track relay connected across the rails of the section and including a resistorand a front contact .of the track relay, and an energizing circuitfor the auxiliary relay connected across, the rails of the section,

and, including a back contact of the track relay.

19. In combination with a section of railway track and a source of current connected across the rails of said section, a track relay and an auxiliary relay, a pickup circuit for said track relay connected across the :rails of the section and including a front contact of the auxiliary relay, a

holding circuit for said track relay connected across the rails of the section and including a resistor adapted to be short circuited by said front contact, another source of current, and an energizing-circuit for said auxiliary relay connected across the rails of the section and including a back contact of the track relay as well as said other source of current, whereby said energizing circuit ,will become effective when and only, when saidsection is occupied by a train.

20. In combination with a sectionofrailway track and a source of current connected across;

the rails of ,said section, a track relay and an auxiliary relay, a pickup circuit for said track relay connected across the rails of the section and including a front contact of the auxiliary relay, a holding circuit for said track relay connected across therails of the section and including a resistor adapted to be short circuited by said front contact, another source of'current, and

a circuit for energizing said auxiliary relay from said other source of current when and only when said section is occupied by a train.

,21. In combination, a section of railway track, a track-circuit for said section including a first source of current and a normally energized relay which releases when a train enters the section, a second track circuit for said section including a second source of current and a normally deenergized, relay which becomes energized when a train enters said section and remains energized aslong as the train remains in the section, and a traffic governing device associated with said section and controlled jointly by said'two relays.

EARL M. ALLEN.

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